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Abstract:

A system is disclosed that includes a plurality of node devices arranged
in sequence; a first node device operable to generate a device count
frame with a device count number and transmit the device count frame to
the next node device in the sequence; a control device in communication
with at least the first node device; wherein each node device is operable
to increase the device count number of the device count frame upon
receipt of the device count frame and transmit the device count frame to
the next node device in sequence; and wherein the control device operable
to receive the device count frame to the first node device after each
node device has increased the device count number of the device count
frame and assign an IP address for each node device, the number of IP
addresses determined by the device count number.

Claims:

1. A method comprising: arranging a plurality of node devices in
sequence; generating a device count frame with a device count number in a
first node device; transmitting the device count frame to each node
device in sequence, each node device increasing the device count number
of the device count frame upon receipt of the device count frame;
returning the device count frame to the first node device after each node
device has increased the device count number of the device count frame;
and assigning an IP address for each node device, the number of IP
addresses determined by the device count number.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising: associating a plurality of
terminal devices to each node device; and transmitting terminal device
hardware information from each terminal device to the respective
associated node device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising: each terminal device
transmitting a data frame containing its MAC address and interface number
to its respective node device; each node device generating an address
table containing its respective terminal device MAC addresses and
interface numbers; and a control device obtaining the address table from
each of the node devices and requesting a terminal attribute for each
terminal device using the MAC address of each terminal device.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising: each terminal device
transmitting the terminal attribute in accordance with the terminal
attribute request; the control device receiving each terminal attribute,
generating an IP address for each terminal device, transmitting the IP
address to each terminal device; and each terminal device setting its IP
address to the received IP address transmitted to it.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein transmitting the IP address to each
terminal device comprises transmitting a sequential list of IP addresses,
and wherein each terminal device setting its IP address comprises setting
the terminal device's IP address to the first IP address in the list,
removing the first IP address on the list, and transmitting the list to
another terminal device.

7. The method of claim 5 further comprising generating configuration
information indicating a construction of the system using the terminal
attribute and the MAC address tables in the control device.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the node devices are arranged in a loop.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the node devices are arranged on a bus.

10. A system comprising: a plurality of node devices arranged in
sequence; a first node device operable to generate a device count frame
with a device count number and transmit the device count frame to the
next node device in the sequence; a control device in communication with
at least the first node device; wherein each node device is operable to
increase the device count number of the device count frame upon receipt
of the device count frame and transmit the device count frame to the next
node device in sequence; and wherein the control device operable to
receive the device count frame to the first node device after each node
device has increased the device count number of the device count frame
and assign an IP address for each node device, the number of IP addresses
determined by the device count number.

11. The system of claim 10 further comprising: a plurality of terminal
devices associated with each node device, each terminal device operable
to transmit terminal device hardware information to the respective
associated node device.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the hardware information comprises a
MAC address, an interface number, and hardware attribute information.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein each terminal device is further
operable to transmit a data frame containing its MAC address and
interface number to its respective node device, each node device is
further operable to generate an address table containing its respective
terminal device MAC addresses and interface numbers; and the control
device is operable to obtain the address table from each of the node
devices and request a terminal attribute for each terminal device using
the MAC address of each terminal device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein each terminal device is further
operable to transmit the terminal attribute in accordance with the
terminal attribute request, the control device is further operable to
receive each terminal attribute, generate an IP address for each terminal
device, and transmit the IP address to each terminal device, each
terminal device further operable to set its IP address to the IP address
transmitted to it by the control device.

15. The system of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of rail
vehicles, each node device associated with a single rail vehicle.

16. A system comprising: a control device in communication with a
plurality of node devices, each node device associated with a rail
vehicle, each rail vehicle arranged in sequence, wherein the control
device is operable to: receive a device count frame with a device count
number, the device count number equaling the number of node devices; and
assign an IP address to each node device based on the number of node
devices indicated in the device count frame.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the control device is further operable
to: receive address tables generated by each of the node devices, the
address table generated by each node device and comprising a MAC address
and interface number from a plurality of terminal devices, request a
terminal attribute from each terminal device using the MAC address of
each terminal device from the address table; receive each terminal
attribute from each terminal device; generate an IP address for each
terminal device; and transmit the IP address to each terminal device,
each terminal device setting its IP address to the IP address transmitted
to it by the control device.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the control device is further operable
to transmit the IP address to each terminal device by transmitting a
sequential list of IP addresses, each terminal device setting its IP
address to the first IP address in the list, removing the first IP
address on the list, and transmitting the list to another terminal
device.

19. The system of claim 17 wherein the control device is further operable
to generate configuration information indicating a construction of the
system using the terminal attribute and the address tables.

20. The system of claim 17 wherein the control device is further operable
to transmit a status request to at least one terminal device, receive a
status response from the terminal device in response to the status
request, and report the status response of the terminal device.

Description:

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application is based upon and claims the benefit of priority
from Japanese Patent Application No. 2010091548, filed on Apr. 12, 2010,
the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0002] The present disclosure relates to an address distributing method
and device for a network provided mainly in the rail vehicles.

BACKGROUND

[0003] Various equipment for the driving system such as motors and brakes,
the monitor system to monitor the state of equipment, and the service
data for traveler service and so on are loaded in rail vehicles, and it
is expected to compose these by a network from a point of reducing the
installation cost. From these requests, the number of equipment to be
connected to the network becomes larger compared to before.

[0004] Conventionally, as the network was built up for each of the service
systems such as the driving system and the monitor system, the number of
the network equipment to be connected to each network is small, and in
addition, as once the equipment itself is installed, it is not changed
fundamentally, so that it is commonly-used that an IP (internet protocol)
address to identify the destination of the data to control these is set
in each equipment.

[0005] Usually a MAC address is previously set for the equipment to be
connected to the network, and this address is determined uniquely for
each equipment. This MAC address is an address applied to the LAN of
Ethernet (registered trademark), is previously set at the time of
shipping each equipment, for example, and is the data that cannot be
changed later. In this case, as the MAC addresses are different
individually for even the equipment of the same type, it becomes a
troublesome work for the managing device that manages these equipment by
the MAC addresses to change the address of the object to be controlled at
the managing device side every time the equipment is exchanged. For this
reason, different from the MAC address that is set for each equipment,
the IP address is usually used.

[0006] By using the IP address, even if the equipment is exchanged due to
failure and so on, the IP address of the target equipment seen from the
managing device is not changed, so that there is a merit that the change
of the address of the object to be controlled is not generated at the
managing device side.

[0007] For this reason, it is necessary to set the IP address for the
equipment to be connected to the network. In the case that the number of
the target equipment to be set is small, it is possible to set manually,
but when the number of the target equipment increases, to set the IP
addresses manually requires a lot of labor and time. To solve this, there
is a method for setting IP automatically by a DHCP server. According to
this method, it is possible to distribute the IP address automatically to
the equipment, but it is difficult to identify the content of the
equipment and its installation place. For this reason, in the case that
the equipment is used as an object to be controlled, as the actual
condition of the object to be controlled is not known from the managing
device side, there is a problem that the equipment cannot be controlled.
In the case of operating the train, the action of the motors and brakes
and opening and closing the doors and so on are controlled, but in the
case that the managing device controls these equipment, if the IP address
in which the equipment to be targeted and its place are correlated with
is not known, it is not possible to designate even whether to open the
right door or to open the left door, for example.

[0008] For this reason, a method of obtaining the information of the
position of the terminal is known, but it is presupposed that where the
node device (switching hub) of the network is present is known.

[0009] In addition, a scheme to distribute automatically the address
information of a plurality of networks is known, but an arrangement
diagram of the equipment to be targeted is required separately or it is
necessary that the node device has the information.

[0010] As described above, it is possible to set the IP address
automatically according to the conventional technology, but it was not
possible to learn up to the attribute and installation position of each
equipment. For this reason, there is a problem that in the automatic
setting of the IP address, it is not possible to identify the IP address
of the equipment to be controlled at the management device side.

[0011] In particular, in the network used in the train, there is a case
that the formation of the train is changed according to its operation,
and it is possible to change the network address manually each time of
changing in the case that the number of the terminals to be targeted is
small, but in the case when the number of the terminals is increased, a
long time is required and the trouble in operation may be caused.

[0012] In addition, at the management device side, as each time the
formation is changed the target equipment to be controlled is
added/deleted, it is necessary to change the control structure by
grasping the target equipment to be added/deleted. Conventionally, the
same control was performed for each vehicle, with respect to motors and
brakes, for example, but the development for the future has been made to
perform effective control for the formation as a whole by controlling
individually the motors and brakes for each vehicle. In order to control
the equipment individually like this, the scheme is necessary that the
management device side can automatically correlate the usable IP address
with the equipment attribute and position information.

[0013] Accordingly, an object of the present disclosure is to provide an
address distributing method and a device in which a management device
side can control a terminal equipment by allotting an IP address of each
node device or terminal automatically in the network in the rail vehicle,
even if the formation is changed. In addition, an object of the present
disclosure is to provide a monitoring method and a monitoring device for
confirming the normality of the terminal equipment using the present
system.

SUMMARY

[0014] A method is disclosed that included arranging a plurality of node
devices in sequence; generating a device count frame with a device count
number in a first node device; transmitting the device count frame to
each node device in sequence, each node device increasing the device
count number of the device count frame upon receipt of the device count
frame; returning the device count frame to the first node device after
each node device has increased the device count number of the device
count frame; and assigning an IP address for each node device, the number
of IP addresses determined by the device count number. The method also
includes associating a plurality of terminal devices to each node device;
and transmitting terminal device hardware information from each terminal
device to the respective associated node device. The hardware information
includes a MAC address, an interface number, and hardware attribute
information.

[0015] The method also includes each terminal device transmitting a data
frame containing its MAC address and interface number to its respective
node device; each node device generating an address table containing its
respective terminal device MAC addresses and interface numbers; and a
control device obtaining the address table from each of the node devices
and requesting a terminal attribute for each terminal device using the
MAC address of each terminal device. The method also includes each
terminal device transmitting the terminal attribute in accordance with
the terminal attribute request; the control device receiving each
terminal attribute, generating an IP address for each terminal device,
transmitting the IP address to each terminal device; and each terminal
device setting its IP address to the received IP address transmitted to
it. Transmitting the IP address to each terminal device includes
transmitting a sequential list of IP addresses, and wherein each terminal
device setting its IP address comprises setting the terminal device's IP
address to the first IP address in the list, removing the first IP
address on the list, and transmitting the list to another terminal
device. The method also includes generating configuration information
indicating a construction of the system using the terminal attribute and
the MAC address tables in the control device. The node devices can be
arranged in a loop. The node devices can be arranged on a bus.

[0016] A system is also disclosed that includes a plurality of node
devices arranged in sequence; a first node device operable to generate a
device count frame with a device count number and transmit the device
count frame to the next node device in the sequence; a control device in
communication with at least the first node device; wherein each node
device is operable to increase the device count number of the device
count frame upon receipt of the device count frame and transmit the
device count frame to the next node device in sequence; and wherein the
control device operable to receive the device count frame to the first
node device after each node device has increased the device count number
of the device count frame and assign an IP address for each node device,
the number of IP addresses determined by the device count number.

[0017] The system also includes a plurality of terminal devices associated
with each node device, each terminal device operable to transmit terminal
device hardware information to the respective associated node device. The
hardware information includes a MAC address, an interface number, and
hardware attribute information. Each terminal device is further operable
to transmit a data frame containing its MAC address and interface number
to its respective node device, each node device is further operable to
generate an address table containing its respective terminal device MAC
addresses and interface numbers; and the control device is operable to
obtain the address table from each of the node devices and request a
terminal attribute for each terminal device using the MAC address of each
terminal device. Each terminal device is further operable to transmit the
terminal attribute in accordance with the terminal attribute request, the
control device is further operable to receive each terminal attribute,
generate an IP address for each terminal device, and transmit the IP
address to each terminal device, each terminal device further operable to
set its IP address to the IP address transmitted to it by the control
device. The system also includes a plurality of rail vehicles, each node
device associated with a single rail vehicle.

[0018] A system is disclosed that includes a control device in
communication with a plurality of node devices, each node device
associated with a rail vehicle, each rail vehicle arranged in sequence,
wherein the control device is operable to: receive a device count frame
with a device count number, the device count number equaling the number
of node devices; and assign an IP address to each node device based on
the number of node devices indicated in the device count frame. The
control device is further operable to: receive address tables generated
by each of the node devices, the address table generated by each node
device and comprising a MAC address and interface number from a plurality
of terminal devices, request a terminal attribute from each terminal
device using the MAC address of each terminal device from the address
table; receive each terminal attribute from each terminal device;
generate an IP address for each terminal device; and transmit the IP
address to each terminal device, each terminal device setting its IP
address to the IP address transmitted to it by the control device. The
control device is further operable to transmit the IP address to each
terminal device by transmitting a sequential list of IP addresses, each
terminal device setting its IP address to the first IP address in the
list, removing the first IP address on the list, and transmitting the
list to another terminal device. The control device is further operable
to generate configuration information indicating a construction of the
system using the terminal attribute and the address tables. The node
devices can be arranged in a loop. The control device is further operable
to transmit a status request to at least one terminal device, receive a
status response from the terminal device in response to the status
request, and report the status response of the terminal device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0019] FIG. 1 is a construction diagram of an embodiment in a ring type
network to which the present disclosure is applied.

[0020]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an initial operation in the address
distribution of the network control device 4.

[0021]FIG. 3A is a flow chart to obtain the number of the node devices.

[0022]FIG. 3B is a diagram showing a fundamental frame configuration of
the data frame.

[0023]FIG. 3c is a diagram showing a configuration of the node device
count frame 310.

[0024] FIG. 4 is a flow chart showing IP address generation for the node
device in the network control device.

[0025]FIG. 5A is a flow chart when the network control device transmits
the IP address to be distributed to the master node device and the master
node device distributes the IP address to the node device.

[0026]FIG. 5B is a diagram showing a configuration of the IP address
distribution frame 320.

[0027]FIG. 6A is a flow chart for sending out the association frame in
the terminal equipment.

[0028]FIG. 6B is a diagram showing a configuration of the association
frame 330.

[0029]FIG. 7 is a flow chart to register the MAC address of the terminal
equipment to the MAC address table in the master node device and the node
device.

[0030]FIG. 8A is a flow chart when the network control device obtains the
MAC address table of the master node device and the node device till
transmits the terminal attribute request frame to the terminal equipment.

[0031]FIG. 8B is a diagram showing a configuration of the correspondence
table.

[0032]FIG. 8c is a diagram showing a configuration of the terminal
attribute request frame 340.

[0033]FIG. 9A is a flow chart when the terminal equipment receives the
terminal attribute request frame and sends back the terminal attribute.

[0034]FIG. 9B is a diagram showing a configuration of the terminal
attribute response frame 350.

[0035] FIG. 10A is a flow chart after the network control device receives
the terminal attribute request response frame.

[0036] FIG. 10B is a diagram showing the construction of the configuration
information.

[0046] FIG. 15 is a flow chart when the network control device distributes
the primary IP address to the terminal equipment.

[0047] FIG. 16 is a flow chart to set the primary IP address in the
terminal equipment.

[0048] FIG. 17 is a flow chart of the terminal attribute request after
confirming the first IP address setting in the network control device.

[0049] FIG. 18 is a flow chart of an operation for the terminal attribute
request in the terminal equipment.

[0050] FIG. 19 is a flow chart after the network control device allots the
primary IP address and obtains the terminal attribute.

[0051]FIG. 20 is a flow chart in which the terminal equipment changes the
setting from the primary IP address to the IP address extracted from the
terminal control.

[0052] FIG. 21 is a flow chart after the network control device
distributes the primary IP address to the terminal equipment, and sets to
the IP address extracted from the terminal control again.

[0053]FIG. 22 is a flow chart after the network control device obtains
the configuration information under the control of the node device from
the master node device and the node device, till sends out the IP address
distribution frame to the terminal equipment.

[0054]FIG. 23 is a flow chart after the network control device obtains
the configuration information under the control of the node device and
the type of structure from the master node device and the node device,
till sends out the IP address distribution frame to the terminal
equipment.

[0055] FIG. 24 is a flow chart when the network control device confirms
the normality of the terminal equipment.

[0056]FIG. 25 is a flow chart when the terminal equipment sends out the
response to the normality confirmation to the network control device.

[0057] FIG. 26 is a construction diagram when the present disclosure is
applied to the bus type network.

[0058]FIG. 27 is a flow chart when the master node device obtains the
number of the node devices and the terminal node device till notifies to
the network control device.

[0059]FIG. 28 is a flow chart when the master node device distributes the
node numbers to the node devices and the terminal node device till
notifies to the network control device.

[0060] FIG. 29 is a construction diagram in the case that the node device
2, the master node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each have the
node number setting unit to set the node number.

[0061] FIG. 30 is a construction diagram in the case that the node device
2, the master node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each has the
configuration information under the control of the node device memory
unit to store the configuration information under the control of the node
device.

[0062] FIG. 31 is a construction diagram in the case that the node device
2, the master node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each has the
node number setting unit to set the node number and the configuration
information under the control of the node device memory unit to store the
configuration information under the control of the node device.

[0063] FIG. 32 is a construction diagram of an embodiment of the present
disclosure in which the node device 2, the master node device 5 and the
terminal node device 34 each has the configuration information under the
control of the node device memory unit and the type of structure.

[0064] FIG. 33 is a construction diagram in the case that the node device
2, the master node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each has the
node number setting unit, the configuration information under the control
of the node device memory unit to store the configuration information
under the control of the node device, and the type of structure memory
unit to store the type of structure.

[0065]FIG. 34 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each has the node number
setting unit to set the node number, the network control device 4 has the
node device node number processing unit.

[0066] FIG. 35 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each counts the number of
the node devices, the network control device 4 has the primary IP address
generating unit so as to distribute the primary IP address.

[0067]FIG. 36 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each sets the node device
node number, the network control device 4 has the primary IP address
generating unit so as to distribute the primary IP address.

[0068]FIG. 37 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each counts the number of
the node devices, the network control device 4 has the configuration
information under the control of the node device collecting unit so as to
collect the configuration information under the control of the node
device.

[0069]FIG. 38 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each sets the node device
node number, the network control device 4 has the configuration
information under the control of the node device collecting unit so as to
collect the configuration information under the control of the node
device.

[0070]FIG. 39 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each counts the number of
the node devices, the network control device 4 has the configuration
information under the control of the node device collecting unit and the
type of structure collecting unit so as to collect the configuration
information under the control of the node device and the type of
structure, respectively, and the sub terminal control memory unit to
store the sub terminal control so as to generate the terminal control.

[0071]FIG. 40 is a construction diagram where node device 2, the master
node device 5 and the terminal node device 34 each sets the node device
node number, the network control device 4 has the configuration
information under the control of the node device collecting unit and the
type of structure collecting unit so as to collect the configuration
information under the control of the node device and the type of
structure, respectively and the sub terminal control memory unit to store
the sub terminal control so as to generate the terminal control.

[0072] FIG. 41 is a construction diagram in the case that the network
control device 4 has the abnormality detection control unit so as to
confirm the normality of the terminal.

[0073]FIG. 42 is a construction diagram in the case that the network
control device 4 has the abnormality detection control unit so as to
confirm the normality of the terminal, and shows a modification of FIG.
41.

[0074]FIG. 43 is a construction diagram in the case that the network
control device 4 has the abnormality detection control unit so as to
confirm the normality of the terminal, and shows a modification of FIG.
41.

[0075]FIG. 44 is a construction diagram in the case that the network
control device 4 has the abnormality detection control unit so as to
confirm the normality of the terminal, and shows a modification of FIG.
41.

[0076]FIG. 45 is a construction diagram in the case that the network
control device 4 has the abnormality detection control unit so as to
confirm the normality of the terminal, and shows a modification of FIG.
41.

[0077]FIG. 46 is a construction diagram in the case that the network
control device 4 has the abnormality detection control unit so as to
confirm the normality of the terminal, and shows a modification of FIG.
41.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

[0078] Hereinafter, an IP address distribution method and a device
according to embodiments of the present disclosure will be described
specifically with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment

[0079] FIG. 1 is a diagram of a ring type network relating to the present
disclosure and its construction, and a main transmission line of a ring
type is composed of a main transmission line 1, a master node device 5,
and a plurality of node devices 2, and the node device 2 is installed by
one for each vehicle. Terminal equipment 3 are connected to the node
device 2 via branch transmission lines 6, respectively, and a network
control device 4 is connected to the master node device 5 via the branch
transmission line 6.

[0080] The node device 2 and the master node device 5 each includes an IP
address setting unit 8, a frame transmitting and receiving unit 9, a node
device count frame processing unit 10 or a master node device count frame
processing unit 10-1, and a MAC address table generating unit 11. In
addition, with respect to the general function as the fundamental
switching hub, the description will be omitted.

[0081] The network control device 4 is composed of a data transmission and
receiving unit 12, an IP address distributing unit 13, a terminal
attribute collecting unit 14, an IP address extracting unit 15, a node
device number of nodes processing unit 16, a node device IP address
generating unit 17, a node device MAC address table collecting unit 18, a
terminal control generating unit 18, and a terminal control unit 20. In
addition, the network control device 4 uses the IP address that is
already set as known. In addition, with respect to the master node device
5, the IP address is set as known.

[0082]FIG. 2 is a flow chart showing an initial action at the time of
address distribution of the network control device 4.

[0083] When the system is started up such as the power source is inputted,
the network control device 4 confirms whether or not the IP address
distribution list is present in the IP address extracting unit 15 in a
step 101. In the case that the IP address distribution list is not
present the processing is transmitted to a step 103 and the network
control device 4 transmits the number of nodes request to the master node
device 5, and then the processing is transmitted to a step 104. In the
case that the IP address is present, the processing is transmitted to a
step 102 and is finished.

[0085] The master node device 5 makes up a node device count frame from
the request from the network control device 4 in a step 105 and inputs an
initial value in the count value in the frame. FIG. 3B shows a
fundamental frame configuration 300 of the data frame that is used in the
present application. The fundamental frame configuration 300 includes a
destination address 301, a transmission source address 302, a type 303 of
the frame, data 304 of the object, an FCS (Frame Check Sequence) 305.
FIG. 3c shows a configuration of a node device count frame 310. The node
device count frame 310 can store a broadcast address 301a as the
destination address. The broadcast address 301a is described by 6-octet
as shown in the upper portion of FIG. 3c, and indicates that any devices
can receive the relevant frame. In addition, the node device count frame
310 includes a frame identifier 306 and a node count value 304a as the
data.

[0086] The initial value of the node count value 304a may be "0", for
example. The master node device 5 transmits the node device count frame
in a step 106. The transmission direction may be any of a clockwise or
counterclockwise direction, and the transmitting direction may be decided
to one direction at any time. In a step 107, the adjacent node device 2
receives the node device count frame 310 and increases the count value
304a in the frame by a definite number. If "1" is increased, for example,
the count value 304a in the frame becomes "1". In addition, the node
device does not transfer the frame to the other node devices, until the
IP address is set. In a step 108, the node device transmits the node
device count frame 310 in which the count value 304a is increased to the
next adjacent node device. The processing is repeated till the master
node device 5 receives the node device count frame 310. When the master
node device 5 receives the node device count frame 310, the master node
device 5 obtains by calculation the number of the nodes from the node
device count frame 310 in a step 111. At the same time the master node
device 5 transmits the obtained number of the nodes to the network
control device, requests the IP address in a step 112.

[0087] As shown in FIG. 4, when the network control device 4 receives the
number of the nodes and the IP address request in a step 114, generates
the IP addresses in a step 115. In this time, with respect to the IP
addresses, the network control device 4 generates the IP addresses by the
number of the node devices from a plurality of freely usable IP addresses
which are previously prepared freely, and transmits the IP addresses to
the master node device 5 in a step 116.

[0088]FIG. 5A shows a distribution method of the IP addresses to the node
device 2. The master node device 5 receives the IP addresses from the
network control device 4 in a step 118, and makes up an IP address
distribution frame 320 in a step 119. FIG. 5B shows a configuration of
the IP address distribution frame 320. The master node device 5 stores
and transmits the IP addresses in such a manner that the order of the
addresses of the nodes are correlated with the order of the node devices
as shown in 304b˜304d of FIG. 5B, and the adjacent node device 2
receives the IP address distribution frame 320 in a step 120. In a step
121, the adjacent node device 2 sets the IP address 304b positioned at
the head of the data portion 304 in the frame to the relevant node
device, and deletes the set IP address from the IP address distribution
frame and transmits the IP address distribution frame 320 to the next
adjacent node device 2 in a step 122. By repeating the processing till
the master node device 5 receives, it is possible to set the IP address
individually to all the node devices 2. In addition, as the IP addresses
are set in the adjacent node devices 2 in the order that is arranged in
the frame 320, it is possible to identify the vehicle in which the node
device 2 is installed, and also it is possible to correlate the
installation position of the node device 2 with the IP address.

[0089] It was described in the above-description that with respect to the
inserting order of the IP addresses which are inserted in the IP address
distribution frame 320 to set the IP addresses, the IP addresses are
inserted from the head of the data portion 304 in the frame in order, but
a method may be used that the IP addresses are inserted from the bottom
of the frame in order and the IP addresses are deleted also from the
bottom at the time of setting.

[0090] Next, a procedure to set the IP address to the terminal equipment 3
will be described. FIG. 6A shows an action of the terminal equipment 3 at
the time of inputting the power source. After the step 100 to input the
power source, the terminal equipment 3 transmits an association frame 330
in a step 179. FIG. 6B shows a configuration of the association frame
330. The association frame 330 includes the broadcast address 301a as the
destination address and a Null 304e as the data. After a waiting time to
count for a definite time in a step 180, the terminal equipment 3
confirms whether the IP address is set in an IP address setting unit 21
in a step 181. In the case that the IP address is not set, the terminal
equipment sends out the association frame 330 again, and in the case that
the IP address is set, finishes sending out the association frame 330.
With respect to the waiting time, a method may be used in which the
waiting time is changed in a random manner by generating random number.

[0091] As shown in FIG. 7, the node device 2 and the master node device 5
receive the association frame 330 in a step 127, and in a step 128
register a MAC address of the connected terminal equipment 3 and its
connected interface number on the MAC address tables of the node device 2
and the master node device 5, respectively. The transmission has become
possible between the node device 2 and the master node device 5 and the
network control device 4, as the IP address is already set as described
above. By this, the network control device 4 collects the MAC address
tables from the node device 2 and the master node device 5 in a step 130
shown in FIG. 8A. By this, the network control device 4 makes up a
correspondence table shown in FIG. 8B to correlate the MAC addresses of
the terminal equipment 3 connected to the node device 2 and the master
node device 4 with the interface numbers in the node device 2 and the
master node device 5 in a step 131. In a step 132, the network control
device 4 transmits to the terminal equipment 3 a terminal attribute
request frame 340 to request terminal attribute data indicating the
attribute (driving device, braking device and so on) of the terminal
equipment 3 to the terminal equipment 3, using the MAP address of the
terminal equipment 3 obtained as described above. FIG. 8c shows a
configuration of the terminal attribute request frame 340. The MAC
address of the terminal equipment 3 is stored as the destination address
301, and an attribute request 304f is store as the data.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 9A, the terminal equipment 3 which received the
terminal attribute request frame 340 in a step 134 sends back a terminal
attribute response frame 350 to store the content of an own terminal
attribute memory unit 22 to the network control device 4 in a step 135.
FIG. 9B shows a configuration of the terminal attribute response frame
350. As the destination address 301 the IP address of the network control
device 4 is stored, and as the data 304 a terminal id 304g and an
attribute information 304h of the relevant terminal are stored.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 10A, the network control device 4, using the
terminal attribute information that is received in a step 137, makes up a
configuration information shown in FIG. 10B in a step 138. In the
configuration information, the ID of the terminal equipment connected to
each vehicle, the attribute information, the MAC address, the position of
the node device 2 or the master node device 5 connected to the relevant
terminal equipment (vehicle number), and a terminal equipment interface
number of the node device 2 or the master node device 5 are correlated
with.

[0094] The network control device 4 builds up the terminal control unit 20
so as to serve in the train in a step 139 from the configuration
information. The terminal control unit 20 may be an operation program, an
interface conversion program so as to be connected to the terminal
equipment 3 required for the necessary service of the train and required
for doing the service, or a service program itself. In the case of the
operation program, for example, the information that there are two
vehicle driving units in the formation and the braking device is provided
by one for each vehicle and so on can be obtained from the configuration
information as shown in FIG. 10B. Accordingly, the operation program is
built up based on the configuration information of the vehicles. In
addition, the building up of the terminal control unit includes the
processing to write an actual address into the address in the program
such as the operation program, various types of service programs of the
train, and the ATO program in the case of the ATO vehicle, based on the
configuration information. In a step 140, the IP address is extracted so
as to correlate with the MAC address of the terminal equipment that
becomes the object to be controlled of the terminal control device 20. In
this IP address extraction, one IP address is extracted from a plurality
of freely usable IP addresses which are previously prepared.

[0095] The network control device 4 stores the extracted IP address in a
terminal equipment IP address distribution frame 360 so as to distribute
the IP address extracted as described above to the corresponding terminal
equipment 3 and transmits it to the terminal equipment 3 in a step 141.
FIG. 10C shows a configuration of the terminal equipment IP address
distribution frame 360. As the destination address 301 the MAC address of
the terminal equipment 3 and as the data an IP address 304i of the
terminal equipment 3 are included.

[0096] As shown in FIG. 11A, the terminal equipment 3 receives the
terminal equipment IP address distribution frame 360 in a step 143, and
sets the designated IP address 304i to the own terminal equipment if the
MAC address coincides in a step 144. After setting, the terminal
equipment 3 sends back a terminal equipment IP address distribution
response frame 370 to the transmission source in a step 145. FIG. 11B
shows a configuration of the IP address distribution response frame 370.
The IP address distribution response frame 370 includes as the
destination address 301 the MAC address of the network control device 4
and as the data an IP address acknowledgment ACK 304j.

[0097] The network control device receives the terminal equipment IP
address distribution response frame 370 in a step 147, and finishes the
IP address distribution to the terminal equipment.

[0098] As is constructed like this scheme, it is possible to set
automatically the IP addresses required for the service to all the
terminal equipment 3. Accordingly, the mistake due to the manual setting
of the IP address to the terminal equipment 3 can be eliminated. In
addition, as the terminal control unit 20 is constructed and the
corresponding IP address is set, according to the formation, such as the
change in the number of the vehicles, the IP address can be distributed
and set to the terminal equipment which becomes the object to be
controlled, without changing the IP address in the terminal control unit
20.

[0099] In addition, the encircled numbers described in the flow charts
from FIG. 2 to FIG. 12 indicate that the flow is connected between the
same encircled numbers.

Second Embodiment

[0100] Next, a modification of a distribution method of the IP address to
the node device 2 will be described as a second embodiment.

[0101] As a distribution method of IP address to the node device 2, in
place of the method in which the number of the node devices 2 is
obtained, and then the IP addresses are distributed in order as described
above, a method will be described in which a node number is given to the
node device 2, and the corresponding IP address is distributed to the
node device 2 by directly designating the node number.

[0102] FIG. 13A is a flow chart to replace FIG. 3A, and it is shown that
an encircled number 1 is connected to the encircled number 1 in the flow
chart of FIG. 2, and an encircled number 2 is connected to the encircled
number 2 in the flow chart of FIG. 4.

[0103] The master node device 5, which received the request for the number
of the nodes, makes up a node number distribution frame 380 in a step
149. FIG. 13B shows a configuration of the node number distribution frame
380. As the destination address 301 the above-described broadcast address
is set, and as the data an initial value 304k of the node number is set.
The node number distribution frame 380 is transmitted to the adjacent
node device in a step 150. In this time, the transmission direction of
the node number distribution frame 380 may be any of a clockwise or
counterclockwise direction.

[0104] The node device 2 which received the node number distribution frame
380 sets the node number which is set in the node number distribution
frame to the own node device in a step 152, increases the node number in
the node number distribution frame by a definite number, and transmits it
to the next node device 2. The processing is repeated till the master
node device 5 receives it. In a step 155, the master node device 5
calculates the number of the node devices from an initial value and the
increased value of the node number of the received node number
distribution frame, and transmits the number of the node devices to the
network control device 4 in a step 156.

[0105] FIG. 14A is a flow chart to replace FIG. 5A, and it is shown that
an encircled number 3 is connected to the encircled number 3 in FIG. 4,
and an encircled number 4 is connected to the encircled number 4 in FIG.
8A.

[0106] The master node device 5 which received the IP address to be
distributed to the node device 2 makes up an IP address distribution
frame 390 in a step 157, and transmits the IP address distribution frame
to the node device 2 having the node number corresponding to the
above-described IP address in a step 158. FIG. 14B is a diagram showing a
configuration of the IP address distribution frame 390. The broadcast
address is set as the destination address 301, the IP address of the
master node device 5 is set as the transmission source address 302, and a
node number 304l and an IP address 304m corresponding to the relevant
node number are set as the data.

[0107] The node device 2 sets the IP address in the IP address
distribution frame to the own node device in the case that the node
number described in the IP address distribution frame 390 coincides with
the node number of the own node device in a step 162. The node device 2,
which has set the IP address, transmits an IP address setting
notification frame 400 to the master node device 5 in a step 163. FIG.
14C is a diagram showing a configuration of the IP address setting
notification frame 400. The MAC address (the transmission source address
of FIG. 14B) of the master node device 5 is set as the destination
address 301, and the node number 304l of the own node device and an IP
address setting AKC 304n are set as the data.

[0108] When the master node device 5 receives the IP address setting
notification frame, finishes the setting of the IP address to one node
device. The master node device 5 executes this to all the node devices
within the network, and when the setting of the IP addresses to all the
node devices 2 is finished, notifies that to the network control device 4
in a step 166.

[0109] As is constructed like this scheme, it is possible to correlate the
installation position of the node device 2 with the IP address.

Third Embodiment

[0110] As a method to obtain the attribute of the terminal equipment 3,
there is a case in which it is more advantageous in the development of
the equipment to obtain the attribute by the processing in the further
upper layer, in addition to a method to obtain in the data link layer.
Hereinafter, a modification of an attribute obtaining method will be
described as a third embodiment.

[0111] The flow charts thereof are shown in FIG. 15 through FIG. 20. It is
shown that an encircled number 4 is connected to the encircled number 4
in FIG. 5A or FIG. 14A, and the same encircled number in each drawing
indicates that the flow is connected. FIG. 15 shows a method in which the
network control device 4 generates a primary IP address from the obtained
MAC address table in which the MAC address of the terminal and the
terminal interface number of the node device 2 and the master node device
5 are described, and distributes it to the terminal equipment. FIG. 16
shows a method in which the terminal equipment sets the primary IP
address. FIG. 17 shows a method in which the network control device 4
transmits the terminal attribute request. FIG. 18 shows a method in which
the terminal equipment 3 receives the terminal attribute request and
transmits the terminal attribute response in which the terminal attribute
data is described to the network control device. FIG. 19 shows a method
in which the network control device builds up the configuration
information, extracts the regular IP address for the terminal equipment
3, and transmits the IP address setting request so as to set the
extracted IP address to the terminal equipment 3. FIG. 20 shows a method
in which the terminal equipment 3 receives the IP address setting request
and set the distributed regular IP address again. FIG. 21 shows that the
network control device receives the terminal equipment IP address
distribution response and finishes the distribution of the IP address.

[0112] As these methods are performed, it is possible to distribute the IP
address that is used in the terminal control unit 20 to the terminal
equipment 3.

Fourth Embodiment

[0113] In the present embodiment, means is provided for each of the node
devices and the master node device to record configuration information
(the configuration information under the control of the node device) to
describe the relation of the MAC address, the attribute information, the
terminal interface number and the terminal device (terminal device id)
with respect to the terminal equipment under the control of the node
devices and the master node device (that is, connected to each node
device). By using the configuration information made up by these means,
the distribution time of the IP address can be made short at the time of
starting up to input the power source and at the time of handling in
changing the connection of the vehicles.

[0115] It is shown that an encircled number 4 in FIG. 22 is connected to
the encircled number 4 in FIG. 5A or FIG. 7, and an encircled number 9 is
connected to the encircled number 9 of FIG. 11A. Here, it is assumed that
each of the node devices and the master node device has the
above-described configuration information under the control of the node
device. The network control device makes up the configuration information
of the whole train from the configuration information under the control
of the node device in a step 211, builds up the terminal control in a
step 212, extracts the IP address in a step 213, and distributes the IP
address to the terminal equipment in a step 214.

Fifth Embodiment

[0116] By providing the means to store the type of structure indicating
the type of the vehicle in the configuration information under the
control of the node device, an operation to build up the terminal control
unit 20 at the network control device 4 side can be simplified. Usually,
the rail vehicles are composed of a plurality types of vehicles, such as
a lead vehicle, a driving vehicle and a passenger car. As these vehicles
have usually the same construction for the type, a type of structure is
set for each type of the vehicle. A sub terminal control (control program
module provided for each vehicle type) corresponding to the
above-described type of structure is stored in a sub terminal control
memory unit of the network control unit 4, and the network control unit 4
extracts the necessary sub terminal control from the sub terminal control
memory unit, based on the type of structure obtained from the node device
2 or the master node device 5. The network control unit 4 can build up
the terminal control unit 20 using the sub terminal control and can
distribute the IP address to be used in the terminal control unit 20 to
the terminal equipment 3.

[0118] It is shown that an encircled number 4 in FIG. 23 is connected to
the encircled number 4 in FIG. 5A or FIG. 7, and an encircled number 9 is
connected to the encircled number 9 in FIG. 11A. The network control
device makes up configuration information of the whole train from the
configuration information under the control of the node device of each
vehicle in a step 217. The network control device builds up the terminal
control using the sub terminal control corresponding to the type of
structure in a step 218, extracts the IP address and concurrently
correlates the MAC address of the terminal equipment in the configuration
information under the control of the node device with the IP address in a
step 219, and distributes the IP address to the terminal equipment in a
step 220.

[0119] In addition, various embodiments can be made by combining each of
the above-described methods.

Sixth Embodiment

[0120] In addition, as the network control device 4 has the configuration
information in the vehicle and the IP address, it becomes possible to
confirm the normality of each equipment. The normality confirmation
processing will be described as a sixth embodiment.

[0121] The network control device 4 transmits a living confirmation frame
to the terminal equipment that is registered in the configuration
information. The terminal equipment receives the living confirmation
frame, sends back a normal frame if the equipment is not abnormal, and
sends back an abnormal frame in the case that the equipment is abnormal.
In the case that the network control device 4 receives the abnormal frame
or an answer is not sent back, judges and registers that the relevant
terminal device is abnormal or notifies the abnormality. In addition, as
the network control device 4 can find the vehicle position of the
terminal equipment 3 and the terminal interface number of the node device
2 from the configuration information, it is possible to identify the
position of the abnormal terminal equipment 3.

[0122] FIG. 24 and FIG. 25 show a method of the present embodiment. In
FIG. 24, the network control device 4 extracts the terminal equipment and
its associating information (terminal attribute, IP address, MAC address,
node device interface number and so on) required for the abnormality
detection from the terminal control unit 20 in a step 222, and generates
an abnormality detection control in a step 223. That is, the network
control device 4 writes the IP address, the MAC address, the node device
interface number and so on, for example, in an abnormality detection
control program based on the associating information. The network control
device 4 transmits a living confirmation request to the terminal
equipment in a step 224. In FIG. 25, the terminal equipment receives the
living confirmation request in a step 228, and stores "normal" in a
living confirmation request response if the own terminal equipment is
normal, and sends it back in a step 231, and stores "abnormal" in the
living confirmation request response if abnormal and sends it back in a
step 230. In FIG. 24, the network control device receives the living
confirmation request response in a step 225, and transmits the living
confirmation request to the next terminal if normal. If abnormal, the
network control device notifies an information including the vehicle
implemented position of the corresponding terminal equipment and the
terminal interface number of the node device in a step 227. This
notification includes to display an alarm on the driver's platform, for
example, or to notify the generation of the abnormality to the nearest
station, or the like. As is structured like this scheme, it is possible
to identify the position of the terminal equipment 3 that becomes
abnormal.

Seventh Embodiment

[0123] Until now, the description has been made by giving the actual
examples in the ring type network configuration, but the same effect can
be obtained in a bus type network. FIG. 26 shows a construction at the
time the present disclosure is applied to the bus type network as a
seventh embodiment.

[0124] In the bus type network, the difference is generated in the
distribution method of the IP address to the node device. In the ring
type, as the node device count frame or the node number distribution
frame is transferred in one direction and for each of the nodes, returns
surely to the master node device 5. But, in the bus type, a scheme so as
to return it becomes necessary. For this reason, it is decided that one
end of the bus is the master node device, and the other end is a terminal
node device. When the terminal node device receives the node device count
framed or the node number distribution frame, transfers it to the master
node device. Here, the terminal node device identifies that the own node
is the terminal node, as another node device is not connected backward
from the own node.

[0125]FIG. 27 shows a method of the seventh embodiment, and FIG. 28 shows
its modification.

[0126]FIG. 27 becomes the method of the present embodiment by replacing
FIG. 3A. It is shown that an encircled number 1 in FIG. 27 is connected
to the encircled number 1 in FIG. 2, and an encircled number 2 in FIG. 27
is connected to the encircled number 2 in FIG. 4.

[0127] The difference from FIG. 3A is a point in which in the case that a
terminal node device 34 receives the node device count frame, transfers
the frame to the master node device 5 in steps 110-1, 111-2, 110-3. By
describing the MAC address of the master node device in the frame to be
transferred from the master node device 5, the terminal node device 34
can set this address in "destination address" of the node device count
frame and can transfer it.

[0128]FIG. 28 becomes the modification of the seventh embodiment by
replacing FIG. 13A, and it is shown that an encircled number 1 in FIG. 28
is connected to the encircled number 1 in FIG. 2, and an encircled number
2 is connected to the encircled number 2 in FIG. 4.

[0129] The difference from FIG. 13A is a point in which in the case that
the terminal node device 34 receives the frame, transfers the frame to
the master node device 5 in steps 154-1, 154-2, 154-3.

[0130] As is constructed by the method as described above, the present
disclosure can be applied to the bus type network.

[0131] With respect to the bus type, various embodiments can be made by
combining each of the above-described methods.

[0132] Next, devices to embody the above-described methods will be
described in detail.

[0133] FIG. 1 is a first device construction according to the present
disclosure, and shows a construction to embody an IP address distributing
device using the ring type network.

[0134] That is, the first device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, in a loop type
network composed of a network control device, a node device to perform
route change by a MAC address, and a terminal equipment to be connected
to it,

[0135] the node device has means for transmitting and receiving a frame to
be transmitted to the node device in order, means for measuring the
number of the node devices by the frame, and means for transmitting the
number of the node devices to the network control device,

[0136] the network control device has means for generating an IP address
and means for transmitting the IP address to one of the node devices,

[0137] the node device has means for distributing the IP address which is
received from the network control device to the node device,

[0138] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting an association
frame and means for stopping generation or transmission of the
association frame,

[0139] the node device has means for generating a MAC address table that
stores a transmission source MAC address of the inputted frame and an
interface number, inputted in the frame,

[0140] the network control device has means to obtain the MAC address
table, means for extracting the MAC address of the terminal equipment to
be connected to the node device and a terminal interface number of the
node device from the obtained MAC address table, and for requesting a
terminal attribute for the terminal equipment using the MAC address of
the terminal equipment,

[0141] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the terminal
attribute by the terminal attribute request, and

[0142] the network control device has means for generating a configuration
information from the terminal attribute and the MAC address table, means
for building up a terminal control, means for extracting an IP address to
be set in the terminal equipment from the terminal control, and means for
transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal
equipment, and

[0143] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0144] A second device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device and the master node device in
FIG. 1 to a node device and a master node device in FIG. 29 and by
changing the network control device to a construction in FIG. 34.

[0145] That is, the second device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, a node number is
described in the frame to be transmitted to the node device of the first
device construction,

[0146] the node device which received the frame has means for setting the
node number described in the frame to the own node device, for setting
the number which is increased by a definite number from the node number
of the received frame, and for sending it to the next adjacent node
device, and means for obtaining the number of the node devices in the
network from the node number of the frame which was transmitted to the
first node device after transmitted to the node devices,

[0147] the network control device has means for describing the node number
and IP address in the frame to transmit, and

[0148] the node device which received the frame in which the node number
and the IP address are described has means for collating the node number
described in the frame with the node number of the node device to set the
IP address to the node device.

[0149] A third device construction according to the present disclosure can
be achieved by changing the network control device in FIG. 1 to FIG. 35.

[0150] That is, the third device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, the network
control device of the first device construction has means for allotting a
primary IP address for the obtained MAC address of the terminal equipment
and means for transmitting the primary IP address to the terminal
equipment,

[0151] the terminal equipment has means for setting the IP address,

[0152] the network control device has means for requesting a terminal
attribute to the terminal equipment using the primary IP address,

[0153] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the terminal
attribute by the terminal attribute request,

[0154] the network control device has means for generating a configuration
information from the terminal attribute and the MAC address table, means
for building up a terminal control, means for extracting the IP address
to be set in the terminal equipment from the terminal control, and means
for transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal
equipment using the primary IP address, and

[0155] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0156] A fourth device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device and the master node device in
FIG. 1 to a node device and a master node device in FIG. 29 and by
changing the network control device to a construction in FIG. 36.

[0157] That is, the fourth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, for the second
device construction, the network control device has means for allotting a
primary IP address for the obtained MAC address of the terminal equipment
and means for transmitting the primary IP address to the terminal
equipment,

[0158] the terminal equipment has means for setting the IP address,

[0159] the network control device has means for requesting a terminal
attribute to the terminal equipment using the primary IP address,

[0160] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the terminal
attribute by the terminal attribute request,

[0161] the network control device has means for generating a configuration
information from the terminal attribute and the MAC address table, means
for building up a terminal control, means for extracting the IP address
to be set in the terminal equipment from the terminal control, and means
for transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal
equipment using the primary IP address, and

[0162] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0163] A fifth device construction according to the present disclosure can
be achieved by changing the node device and the master node device in
FIG. 1 to a node device and a master node device in FIG. 30 and by
changing the network control device to a construction in FIG. 37.

[0164] That is, the fifth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, in a loop type
network composed of a network control device, a node device to perform
route change by a MAC address and a terminal equipment to be connected to
it,

[0165] the node device has means for transmitting and receiving a frame to
be transmitted to the node device in order, means for measuring the
number of the node devices by the frame, and means for transmitting the
number of the node devices to the network control device,

[0166] the network control device has means for generating an IP address
and means for transmitting the IP address to one of the node devices,

[0167] the node device has means for distributing the IP address which is
received from the network control device to the node device,

[0168] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the association
frame and means for stopping the association frame,

[0169] the node device has means for generating a MAC address table which
stores a transmission source MAC address of the inputted frame and an
interface number inputted in the frame, and means for storing
configuration information under the control of the node device in which
the relation between the MAC address to be connected to the node device
and the interface number of the node device to which the terminal
equipment is connected and attribute information of the terminal
equipment are described,

[0170] the network control device has means for obtaining the
configuration information under the control of the node device, means for
extracting the MAC address of the terminal equipment to be connected to
the node device, the interface number of the node device and the
attribute information of the terminal equipment from the obtained
configuration information under the control of the node device, means for
generating configuration information, means for building up terminal
control, means for extracting an IP address to be set to the terminal
equipment from the terminal control, and means for transmitting the
extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal equipment, and

[0171] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0172] A sixth device construction according to the present disclosure can
be achieved by changing the node device and the master node device in
FIG. 1 to a node device and a master node device in FIG. 31 and by
changing the network control device to a construction in FIG. 38.

[0173] That is, the sixth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, a frame to be
transmitted to the node device as stated in the fifth device construction
describes a node number,

[0174] the node device which received the frame has means for setting the
node number described in the frame to the own node device, for setting
the number which is increased by a definite number from the node number
of the received frame, and for sending it to the next adjacent node
device, and means for obtaining the number of the node devices in the
network from the node number of the frame which was transmitted to the
first node device after transmitted to the node devices, and

[0175] the node device has means for describing the node number and the IP
address in the frame to transmit, and the node device which received the
frame in which the node number and the IP address are described has means
for collating the node number described in the frame with the node number
of the node device to set the IP address to the node device.

[0176] A seventh device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device and the master node device in
FIG. 1 to a node device and a master node device in FIG. 32 and by
changing the network control device in FIG. 1 to a construction in FIG.
39.

[0177] That is, the seventh device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, in a loop type
network composed of a network control device, a node device to perform
route change by a MAC address and a terminal equipment to be connected to
it,

[0178] the node device has means for transmitting and receiving a frame to
be transmitted to the node device in order, means for measuring the
number of the node devices by the frame, and means for transmitting the
number of the node devices to the network control device,

[0179] the network control device has means for generating an IP address
and means for transmitting the IP address to one of the node devices,

[0180] the node device has means for distributing the IP address which is
received from the network control device to the node device,

[0181] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the association
frame and means for stopping the association frame,

[0182] the node device has means for generating a MAC address table which
stores a transmission source MAC address of the inputted frame and an
interface number in which the frame is inputted, and means for storing
configuration information under the control of the node device in which
the relation between the MAC address to be connected to the node device
and the interface number of the node device to which the terminal
equipment is connected and attribute information of the terminal
equipment are described,

[0183] the network control device has means for obtaining the
configuration information under the control of the node device and a type
of structure, means for extracting the MAC address of the terminal
equipment to be connected to the node device, the interface number of the
node device and the attribute information of the terminal equipment from
the obtained configuration information under the control of the node
device, means for generating configuration information, means for storing
a sub terminal control which constitutes a part of the construction of
terminal control, means for building up the terminal control from the
type of structure and the sub terminal control, means for extracting an
IP address to be set to the terminal equipment from the terminal control,
and means for transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding
terminal equipment, and

[0184] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0185] An eighth device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device and the master node device in
FIG. 1 to a node device and a master node device in FIG. 33 and by
changing the network control device in FIG. 1 to a construction in FIG.
40.

[0186] That is, the eighth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, a frame to be
transmitted to the node device as stated in the seventh device
construction describes a node number,

[0187] the node device which received the frame has means for setting the
node number described in the frame to the own node device, for setting
the number which is increased by a definite number from the node number
of the received frame, and for sending it to the next adjacent node
device, and means for obtaining the number of the node devices in the
network from the node number of the frame which was transmitted to the
first node device after transmitted to the node devices, and

[0188] the node device has means for describing the node number and the IP
address in the frame to transmit, and the node device which received the
frame in which the node number and the IP address are described has means
for collating the node number described in the frame with the node number
of the node device to set the IP address to the node device.

[0189] FIG. 26 shows a ninth device construction according to the present
disclosure so as to embody an IP address distributing device for a bus
type network.

[0190] That is, the ninth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, in a bus type
network composed of a network control device, a node device to perform
route change by a MAC address, and a terminal equipment to be connected
to it,

[0191] the node device has means for transmitting and receiving a frame to
be transmitted to the node device in order, means for transferring the
frame to a first one of the node devices, means for measuring the number
of the node devices by the frame, and means for transmitting the number
of the node devices to the network control device,

[0192] the network control device has means for generating an IP address
and means for transmitting the IP address to one of the node devices,

[0193] the node device has means for distributing the IP address which is
received from the network control device to the node device,

[0194] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting an association
frame and means for stopping the association frame,

[0195] the node device has means for generating a MAC address table which
stores a transmission source MAC address of the inputted frame and an
interface number inputted in the frame,

[0196] the network control device has means to obtain the MAC address
table, means for extracting the MAC address of the terminal equipment to
be connected to the node device and a terminal interface number of the
node device from the obtained MAC address table, and for requesting a
terminal attribute for the terminal equipment using the MAC address of
the terminal equipment,

[0197] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the terminal
attribute by the terminal attribute request, and

[0198] the network control device has means for generating a configuration
information from the terminal attribute and the MAC address table, means
for building up a terminal control, means for extracting an IP address to
be set in the terminal equipment from the terminal control, and means for
transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal
equipment, and

[0199] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0200] A tenth device construction according to the present disclosure can
be achieved by changing the node device, the master node device, and the
terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a master node device,
and a terminal node device in FIG. 29 and by changing the network control
device to a construction in FIG. 34.

[0201] That is, the tenth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, a node number is
described in the frame to be transmitted to the node device as recited in
the ninth device construction,

[0202] the node device which received the frame has means for setting the
node number described in the frame to the own node device, for setting
the number which is increased by a definite number from the node number
of the received frame, and for sending it to the next adjacent node
device, means for transferring the frame to a first one of the node
devices, and means for obtaining the number of the node devices in the
network from the node number of the frame which was transmitted to the
first node device after transmitted to the node devices, and

[0203] the node device has means for describing the node number and IP
address in the frame to transmit, and the node device which received the
frame in which the node number and the IP address are described has means
for collating the node number described in the frame with the node number
of the node device to set the IP address to the node device.

[0204] An eleventh device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device, the master node device, and
the terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a master node
device, and a terminal node device in FIG. 31 and by changing the network
control device to a construction in FIG. 35.

[0205] That is, the eleventh device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, the network
control device as recited in the ninth device construction has means for
allotting a primary IP address for the obtained MAC address of the
terminal equipment and means for transmitting the primary IP address to
the terminal equipment,

[0206] the terminal equipment has means for setting the IP address,

[0207] the network control device has means for requesting a terminal
attribute to the terminal equipment using the primary IP address,

[0208] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the terminal
attribute by the terminal attribute request,

[0209] the network control device has means for generating a configuration
information from the terminal attribute and the MAC address table, means
for building up a terminal control, means for extracting the IP address
to be set in the terminal equipment from the terminal control, and means
for transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal
equipment using the primary IP address, and

[0210] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0211] A twelfth device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device, the master node device, and
the terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a master node
device, and a terminal node device in FIG. 29 and by changing the network
control device to a construction in FIG. 36.

[0212] That is, the twelfth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, the network
control device as recited in the tenth device construction has means for
allotting a primary IP address for the obtained MAC address of the
terminal equipment and means for the primary IP address to the terminal
equipment,

[0213] the terminal equipment has means for setting the IP address,

[0214] the network control device has means for requesting a terminal
attribute to the terminal equipment using the primary IP address,

[0215] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the terminal
attribute by the terminal attribute request,

[0216] the network control device has means for generating a configuration
information from the terminal attribute and the MAC address table, means
for building up a terminal control, means for extracting the IP address
to be set in the terminal equipment from the terminal control, and means
for transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal
equipment using the primary IP address, and

[0217] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0218] A thirteenth device construction according to the present
disclosure can be achieved by changing the node device, the master node
device, and the terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a
master node device, and a terminal node device in FIG. 30 and by changing
the network control device in FIG. 37.

[0219] That is, the thirteenth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, in a bus type
network composed of a network control device, a node device to perform
route change by a MAC address and a terminal equipment to be connected to
it,

[0220] the node device has means for transmitting and receiving a frame to
be transmitted to the node device in order, means for transferring the
frame to a first one of the node devices, means for measuring the number
of the node devices by the frame, and means for transmitting the number
of the node devices to the network control device,

[0221] the network control device has means for generating an IP address
and means for transmitting the IP address to one of the node devices,

[0222] the node device has means for distributing the IP address which is
received from the network control device to the node device,

[0223] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the association
frame and means for stopping the association frame,

[0224] the node device has means for generating a MAC address table which
stores a transmission source MAC address of the inputted frame and an
interface number inputted in the frame, and means for storing
configuration information under the control of the node device in which
the relation between the MAC address to be connected to the node device
and the interface number of the node device to which the terminal
equipment is connected and attribute information of the terminal
equipment are described,

[0225] the network control device has means for obtaining the
configuration information under the control of the node device, means for
extracting the MAC address of the terminal equipment to be connected to
the node device, the interface number of the node device and the
attribute information of the terminal equipment from the obtained
configuration information under the control of the node device, means for
generating configuration information, means for building up terminal
control, means for extracting an IP address to be set to the terminal
equipment from the terminal control, and means for transmitting the
extracted IP address to the corresponding terminal equipment, and

[0226] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0227] A fourteenth device construction according to the present
disclosure can be achieved by changing the node device, the master node
device, and the terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a
master node device, and a terminal node device in FIG. 31 and by changing
the network control device in FIG. 38.

[0228] That is, the fourteenth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, a frame to be
transmitted to the node device as stated in the thirteenth device
construction describes a node number,

[0229] a frame to be transmitted to the node device as stated in the
thirteenth device construction describes a node number,

[0230] the node device which received the frame has means for setting the
node number described in the frame to the own node device, for setting
the number which is increased by a definite number from the node number
of the received frame, and for sending it to the next adjacent node
device, means for transferring the frame to a first one of the node
devices, and means for obtaining the number of the node devices in the
network from the node number of the frame which was transmitted to the
first node device after transmitted to the node devices, and

[0231] the node device has means for describing the node number and the IP
address in the frame to transmit, and the node device which received the
frame in which the node number and the IP address are described has means
for collating the node number described in the frame with the node number
of the node device to set the IP address to the node device.

[0232] A fifteenth device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device, the master node device, and
the terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a master node
device, and a terminal node device in FIG. 32 and by changing the network
control device to a construction in FIG. 39.

[0233] That is, the fifteenth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, in a bus type
network composed of a network control device, a node device to perform
route change by a MAC address and a terminal equipment to be connected to
it,

[0234] the node device has means for transmitting and receiving a frame to
be transmitted to the node device in order, means for transferring the
frame to a first one of the node devices, means for measuring the number
of the node devices by the frame, and means for transmitting the number
of the node devices to the network control device,

[0235] the network control device has means for generating an IP address
and means for transmitting the IP address to one of the node devices,

[0236] the node device has means for distributing the IP address which is
received from the network control device to the node device,

[0237] the terminal equipment has means for transmitting the association
frame and means for stopping the association frame,

[0238] the node device has means for generating a MAC address table which
stores a transmission source MAC address of the inputted frame and an
interface number in which the frame is inputted, and means for storing
configuration information under the control of the node device in which
the relation between the MAC address to be connected to the node device
and the interface number of the node device to which the terminal
equipment is connected and attribute information of the terminal
equipment are described,

[0239] the network control device has means for obtaining the
configuration information under the control of the node device and a type
of structure, means for extracting the MAC address of the terminal
equipment to be connected to the node device, the interface number of the
node device and the attribute information of the terminal equipment from
the obtained configuration information under the control of the node
device, means for generating configuration information, means for storing
a sub terminal control which constitutes a part of the construction of
terminal control, means for building up the terminal control from the
type of structure and the sub terminal control, means for extracting an
IP address to be set to the terminal equipment from the terminal control,
and means for transmitting the extracted IP address to the corresponding
terminal equipment, and

[0240] the terminal equipment has means for setting the received IP
address to the own terminal equipment.

[0241] A sixteenth device construction according to the present disclosure
can be achieved by changing the node device, the master node device, and
the terminal node device in FIG. 26 to a node device, a master node
device, and a terminal node device in FIG. 33 and by changing the network
control device to a construction in FIG. 40.

[0242] That is, the sixteenth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, a frame to be
transmitted to the node device as stated in the fifteenth device
construction describes a node number,

[0243] the node device which received the frame has means for setting the
node number described in the frame to the own node device, for setting
the number which is increased by a definite number from the node number
of the received frame, and for sending it to the next adjacent node
device, means for transferring the frame to a first one of the node
devices, and means for obtaining the number of the node devices in the
network from the node number of the frame which was transmitted to the
first node device after transmitted to the node devices, and

[0244] the node device has means for describing the node number and the IP
address in the frame to transmit, and the node device which received the
frame in which the node number and the IP address are described has means
for collating the node number described in the frame with the node number
of the node device to set the IP address to the node device.

[0245] A seventeenth device construction according to the present
disclosure can be achieved by providing an abnormality detection control
unit in the network control device as shown in FIG. 41. In addition, FIG.
42 is a modification of a network control device in the case that the
node device has a configuration information under the control of the node
device memory unit.

[0246] That is, the seventeenth device construction of the IP address
distributing device is a device characterized in that, the network
control device has means for generating an abnormality detection control
from the terminal control, means for transmitting a living confirmation
request to the terminal equipment, means for discriminating existence or
non-existence of abnormality of the terminal equipment from a living
confirmation request response, and means for notifying a position
information of the terminal equipment in the case that the terminal
equipment is abnormal.

[0247] In addition, FIG. 43 shows a modification of a network control
device in the case that the node device has a configuration information
under the control of the node and a type of structure memory unit. FIG.
44 shows a modification of a network control device in the case that the
node device sets a node number. FIG. 45 shows a modification of a network
control device in the case that the node device sets a node number and
has a configuration information under the control of the node device
memory unit. FIG. 46 shows a modification of a network control device in
the case that the node device sets a node number and has a configuration
information under the control of the node and a type of structure memory
unit.

[0248] As is composed of the method like this, it is possible to
comprehend the necessary object to be controlled and allot the IP address
automatically at the management device side, so that control can be made
possible by building up the relation of the object to be controlled at
the management device side concurrently.

[0249] In addition, as the node device is installed for each vehicle, the
position of the terminal can be found, so that the identification of the
object can be made easy in the case that the device becomes abnormal.